Liquid crystal display and method for fabricating same

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display comprises a plurality of components including a panel unit that includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel with a display surface, a light conductive plate, and a lamp reflector. A first housing part or housing front has an opening exposing the display surface of the LCD panel. A second housing part or housing rear is complementary to the first housing part. The housing front has at least one horizontal retainer arranged to retain at least one of the components at a desired position within a hypothetical horizontal plane parallel to the display surface of the LCD panel, and a vertical retainer arranged to retain the components together. The housing rear has a load applying portion arranged to load the vertical retainer into firm engagement with the adjacent one of the components when the housing rear and the housing front are coupled to each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a display device. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a liquid crystal displayand method for fabricating same.

2. Description of the Related Art

The market of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) is growing wider and widerover various fields including office automation equipments, audio andvisual equipments, and mobile equipments due to their advantage inthickness, weight and power consumption. As shown in FIG. 23, inassembly of a LCD, a housing front 49 and a housing rear 48 cooperatewith each other to retain a backlight unit 33, a panel unit 32 and arear sheet metal 37 together in fixed operative relationship. Thebacklight unit 33 uses a front frame 35 and a rear frame 36 to retainlamp components, which include a lamp 11, a reflector 12, an optic sheet16, a reflector sheet 10, and a light conductive plate 9. The panel unit32 uses a front bezel 34 to retain a liquid display panel (LCD) 1.Connected to the LCD 1 are a connecting substrate 6 and a signalprocessing substrate 7 via a plurality of flexible substrates 4. Theflexible substrates include driver integrated circuits (ICs). The rearsheet metal 37 has mounted thereto a converter substrate 13 and aninverter substrate 14. The converter substrate 13 is provided to convertexternal signal for transmission. The inverter substrate 14 is providedto supply a desired level of voltage to the lamp.

In the above-mentioned LCD, the lamp components are assembled to formone unit, the display components are assembled to form another unit andthe signal processing circuit substrates are assembled to form otherunit. Using the housing front 49 and housing rear 48, these units areinterconnected and retained in operative relationship. Using the unitsin assembly is closely related to varying of specification of a LCD withdifferent user needs. Advantages of using the units include thefollowing. Firstly, selecting units and interconnecting the selectedunits to meet different user needs may achieve a wide use of a LCD.Secondary, an ease and convenience of transport may be recognized if thecomponents are manufactured at different sites function by functionbecause the components are retained in operative relationship by frames.

The operative interconnection of the units may include not only electricconnection, but also optic connection. Increased accuracy is required inalignment to provide performance as high as expected. Maintaining gooddisplay quality requires accurate alignment between the backlight andpanel units 33 and 32. It is the common practice to use frames to retainthem together in operatively relationship.

One example of retaining a panel unit and a backlight unit is disclosedin JP-A 11-281963 (Toshiba). According to the teaching of this laid-openpublication, the backlight unit includes a frame formed with first andsecond protrusions for alignment of a LCD panel of the panel unit. Thefirst and second protrusions are arranged across the LCD panel forabutting engagement with the remote sides of it with clearance. A bezelis fast on sides of the frame of the backlight unit to retain the panelunit to the backlight unit in operative relationship. The bezel isformed with a bias protrusion that bulges into clearance between thesecond protrusion and the adjacent sides of the LCD panel, pressing itagainst the first protrusion.

Another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,550, Ohgami et al(=JP-A 9-297542, Toshiba). According to the teaching of this priorreference, a panel unit is formed with attachment flanges. With a bezel,the panel unit is fixed to a backlight unit to form an assembly. Theassembly is mounted by interposing the attachment flanges between ahousing front and a housing rear.

With reference to FIGS. 24 to 33, the first mentioned LCD will befurther described. FIGS. 24 to 33 are perspective views showingfabricating processes of the LCD. FIGS. 24 to 27 show a sequence ofprocesses for fabricating the backlight unit 33. FIGS. 28 to 30 show thesubsequent fabricating processes till completion of the LCD.

Firstly, the assembly of a backlight unit 33 is described. As shown inFIG. 24, a reflector sheet 10, a lamp 11 and a reflector 12 are insertedinto a rear frame 36. With a lamp retainer rubber 11 a, the lamp 11 istemporarily fixed to the reflector 12 and has a lamp cable 15.Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 25, a light conductive plate 9, adiffusion film 16 b and a lens film 16 a are placed on the reflectorsheet 10 within the rear frame 36 one after another. The diffusion andlens films 16 b and 16 a form an optic sheet 16. Finally, as shown inFIG. 26, a front frame 35 cooperates with the rear frame 36 to interposebetween them the backlight components, completing the assembly of thebacklight unit (see FIG. 27). Couplings 39, each having a hook 36 a onthe rear frame 36 inserted into its mating hook hole 35 a on the frontframe 35, and screws 38 fix the rear and front frames 36 and 35 to eachother together.

Secondly, the assembly of a display unit 31 is described. As shown inFIG. 28, the backlight unit 33 is formed with a rib 40 for aligning apanel unit 32, which includes an LCD panel 1 with flexible substrates 4connected to connecting and signal processing substrates 6 and 7. TheLCD panel 1 is placed on the backlight unit 33. Subsequently, as shownin FIG. 29, the flexible substrates 4 are bent down, admitting theconnecting and signal processing substrates 6 and 7 into behind thebacklight unit 33. In one case, the connecting substrates 6 may be lefton a forward surface of the backlight unit 33. In another case, theconnecting substrates 6 may be fixedly attached to sides of thebacklight unit 33. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 30, a front bezel 34and the backlight unit 33 interpose between them the panel unit 32.Couplings 31 b, each including a hook 35 b on the sides of the frontframe 35 inserted into its mating hook hole 34 a, fix the front bezel 34and the backlight unit 33 to each other together.

With reference to FIGS. 31 to 33, the subsequent fabrication processesare described. As shown in FIG. 31, the display unit 31 is turned upside down to face a display surface 32 a down. Subsequently, a rearsheet metal 37, which has mounted thereto inverter and convertersubstrates 14 and 13 by hooks 37 a and screws 41, is mounted onto therear surface of the display unit 31. Next, as shown in FIG. 32, screws43 are used to fix the rear sheet metal 37 onto the rear surface of thebacklight unit 33. Connecting cables 42 interconnect the substrates.Lamp cables 15 are connected to the inverter substrate 14. Finally, asshown in FIG. 33, with hooks 46 a inserted into hook holes 46 b and withscrews 47, a housing front 49 and a housing rear 48 are fixed to eachother to embrace the display unit 31.

The above-described LCD involves the following problems. One problem isthe difficulty in further reducing the size, thickness and weight due tothe use of front and rear frames 35, 36 in forming the backlight unit 33and the use of front bezel 34 in forming the display unit 31. Anotherproblem is the difficulty in maintaining precision required in finalassembly of each product due to accumulation of alignment errorsinevitably existing in the backlight and display units.

Another problem is the increased number of fabrication processes due toadditional process of retaining or embracing assembled components ofeach unit and additional process of interconnecting the units.

Another problem is the complicated processes that require skilled labor.As mentioned before, the following processes form the display unit 31.One process is to put the panel unit 32 onto the backlight unit 33 withits display surface 32 a up. The subsequent process is to attach therear sheet metal 37 to the display unit 31 after turning the displayunit 31 through 180 degrees until the display surface 32 a faces down.In addition to such complicated work, the operation to turn the displayunit 31 through 180 degrees involves potential danger that the LCD panel1 may be scratched and/or damaged.

Another problem is the difficulty in cost reduction due to increasednumber of components. The increased number of components poses supplyand delivery problem. Besides, there is the tendency that a lead-timefrom arrival of components to assembly of them is long.

A need remains for a LCD and method for fabricating same without framesand/or bezel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystaldisplay, which meets the above-mentioned need.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method forfabricating a liquid crystal display, which meets the above-mentionedneed.

According to one exemplary implementation of the invention, there isprovided a liquid crystal display comprising:

a plurality of components including a panel unit that includes a liquidcrystal display (LCD) panel with a display surface, a light conductiveplate, and a lamp reflector;

a first housing part having an opening exposing the display surface ofthe LCD panel;

a second housing part complementary to the first housing part;

the first housing part having at least one horizontal retainer arrangedto retain at least one of the components at a desired position within ahypothetical horizontal plane parallel to the display surface of the LCDpanel, and a vertical retainer arranged to retain the componentstogether,

the second housing part having a load applying portion arranged to loadthe vertical retainer into firm engagement with the adjacent one of thecomponents when the second housing part and the first housing part arecoupled to each other,

the first and second housing parts retaining the components togetherwhen the first and second housing parts are coupled to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent from the following moreparticular description of exemplary embodiments of the invention asillustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are notnecessarily scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a panel unit including a liquid crystalpanel.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first housing part (orhousing front), a second housing part (or housing rear) and componentsof a liquid crystal panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing front according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a section taken through the line A-A′ in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a section taken through the line B-B′ in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a section taken through the line C-C′ in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a section taken through the line D-D′ in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8(a) is a sectional view of a portion of the housing rear showing aload applying portion in the form of a brace.

FIG. 8(b) is a section similar to FIG. 7 but in loaded state when thehousing front and rear are coupled to each other.

FIG. 9(a) is a section similar to FIG. 7 showing one modification.

FIG. 9(b) is a section similar to FIG. 7 showing another modification.

FIG. 10(a) is a similar view to FIG. 7 showing another modification.

FIG. 10(b) is a similar view to FIG. 7 showing another modification.

FIGS. 11 to 19 are perspective view of fabrication processes.

FIG. 20(a) is a similar view to FIG. 7 showing another embodiment.

FIG. 20(b) is a section similar to FIG. 20(a) but in loaded state whenthe housing front and rear are coupled to each other.

FIG. 21(a) a sectional view of a portion of a housing rear showing aload applying portion in the form of a damper.

FIG. 21(b) is a section similar to FIG. 7 but in loaded state when thehousing front is coupled to the housing rear shown in FIG. 21(a).

FIG. 22(a) a sectional view of a portion of a housing rear showing aload applying portion in the form of another damper.

FIG. 22(b) is a section similar to FIG. 7 but in loaded state when thehousing front is coupled to the housing rear shown in FIG. 22(a).

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional liquid crystaldisplay discussed before.

FIGS. 24 to 33 are perspective view of fabrication processes of theconventional liquid crystal display.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals areused to designate same or similar parts or portions throughout each viewof Figures for the sake of brevity of description.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, particularly to FIGS. 1 to22(b), one exemplary implementation of the present invention isdescribed.

According to the exemplary implementation of the present invention, oneexemplary implementation of a liquid crystal display (LCD) according tothe present invention includes such components as a panel unit 18, alamp 11, a reflector 12, a light conductive plate 9, and an optic sheet16. A housing front 19 and a housing rear 8 cooperate with each other toretain between them the components together. The housing front 19 isformed with an opening 20 to expose the display surface of the LCD panel1. The housing front and rear 19 and 8 may be provided by moldingplastic resin or forming metal. More specifically describing on thecomponents, as shown in FIG. 1, the panel unit 18 includes a LCD panel1, connecting substrates 6, a signal processing substrate 7 and flexiblesubstrates 4. Some of the flexible substrates 4 interconnect the LCDpanel 1 and each of the connecting substrates 6. The other flexiblesubstrates 4 interconnect the LCD panel 1 and the signal processingsubstrate 7. Light from the lamp 11 is reflected at the reflector 12.The reflected light illuminates the light conductive plate 9. The lightissued from the light conductive plate 9 is reflected, dispersed andcollected by the optic sheet 16.

In assembly, the housing front 19 is placed with its surface down. Withits display surface 1 b down, the LCD panel 1 is put onto the rearsurface of the housing front 19. The housing front 19 is formed with aLCD panel retainer 22. The LCD panel retainer 22 retains the LCD panel 1in a desired position within a hypothetical horizontal plane parallel tothe display surface 1 b. Subsequently, the optic sheet 16 and the lightconductive plate 9 are put onto the LCD panel 1. The optic sheet may beof the type including a portion, which is put onto the light conductiveplate. The light conductive plate may be of the type including aportion, which portion is combined with the lamp 11 and/or the reflector12. The optic sheet 16 includes a transparent sheet of plastic materialand a sheet that has high reflectance and low transparency.

The housing front 19 is also formed with a light conductive plate (LCP)retainer, which retains the light conductive plate 9 in a desiredposition within a hypothetical horizontal plane parallel to the displaysurface 1 b. After mounting and interconnecting the signal processingsubstrate 7, lamp 11 and reflector 12, the housing rear 8 is coupled tothe housing front 19 to retain between them the components. To providefirm engagement between the LCD panel 1 and housing front 19, an elasticsheet 21 or an adhesive sheet may be placed on the portion around theopening 20, onto which the LCD panel 1 is put.

The LCD panel retainer 22 may be so constructed and arranged as toretain portions of the light conductive plate 9 and reflector 12 as wellas the LCD panel 1. The light conductive plate retainer may be soconstructed and arranged as to retain a portion of the reflector 12 aswell as the light conductive plate 9.

In the exemplary implementation, the LCP retainer includes a LCPhorizontal retainer 23 and a LCP vertical retainer 24. The LCPhorizontal retainer 23 is so constructed and arranged as to retain thelight conductive plate 9 at a desired position within a hypotheticalhorizontal plane parallel to the display surface 1 b of the LCD panel 1.The LCP vertical retainer 24 is so constructed and arranged as to retainthe light conductive plate 9 at a desired position within a hypotheticalvertical plane orthogonal to the hypothetical horizontal plane. FIG. 7shows the cross sectional profile of one exemplary embodiment of LCPvertical retainer 24. In FIG. 7, the LCP vertical retainer 24 is formedwith a hook 24 b at a head end. The LCP vertical retainer 24 has aninboard surface positioned to contact with the light conductive plate 9and an outboard surface on the remote side of the inboard surface. TheLCP vertical retainer 24 is tapered toward the head end so that theoutboard surface is inclined inboard toward the head end to provide apressure acting site 24 a. FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) show a portion of thecross sectional profile of housing rear 8 disengaged from the housingfront 19 and that engaged with it, respectively. As readily seen fromFIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the housing rear 8 has formed therewith a brace 27protruding from a portion thereof. When the housing rear and front 8 and19 are engaged as shown in FIG. 8(b), the brace 27 contacts with the LCPvertical retainer 24 at an interface 28, and it covers the LCP verticalretainer 24. The cross sectional profile of the brace 27 shown in FIG.8(a) clearly indicates that the brace 27 is tapered downward toward ahead end to provide an inboard brace wall 27 a inclined outboard towardthe head end. The brace 27 has a vertically extending outboard wall. Thebrace 27 is formed with a hook holder 27 b. When the housing rear andfront 8 and 19 are engaged, the inclined inboard brace wall 27 a is infirm contact with the pressure acting site 24 a of the LCP verticalretainer 24, loading the vertical retainer 24 through the interface 28.The hook holder 27 b receives the hook 24 b.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8(b), pressing the housing rear 8 intocoupling engagement with the housing front 19 loads the LCP verticalretainer 24 through engagement between the inclined inboard brace wall27 a and the pressure acting site 24 a. This inclines the LCP verticalretainer 24 inwardly toward the light conductive plate 9, causing thehook 24 b to move for insertion into the hook holder 27 b and into firmengagement with the rear surface of the light conductive plate 9. Atperipheral portions, the housing front and rear 19 and 8 are formed withcoupling portions 26 a and 26 b, respectively. Engaging the couplingportion 26 a and 26 b with each other completes coupling between thehousing front and rear 19 and 8. With respect to the components of theLCD contained within the housing, the coupling portions 26 b of thehousing rear 8 are inboard and the coupling portions 26 a of the housingfront 19 are outboard.

Comparing the above-described structure with the before describedstructure in connection with FIGS. 23 to 33 clearly indicates that thefront and rear frames 35 and 36 used to retain the backlight unit 33 andthe front bezel 34 used to retain the LCD panel 1 are no longer needed.This has resulted in a considerable reduction in the number ofcomponents and a considerable reduction in the number of fabricationprocesses. Besides, a considerable reduction in dimension and weight ofthe housing front and rear 19 and 8 is now possible.

According to the exemplary implementation of the present invention, thepanel retainer 22, LCP horizontal retainer 23 and LCP vertical retainer24 align and hold the components of the LCD with enhanced precision andforce.

The following sections provide description on exemplary embodimentsaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 1 to 19 show one exemplary embodiment according to the presentinvention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 18 generally designatesa panel unit. The panel unit 18 includes a LCD panel 1. The LCD panel 1includes two o.pposed glass substrates 3 and 2. The glass substrate 3has deposited thereon a layer of thin film transistor. Confined within aspace between the glass substrates 3 and 2 is liquid crystal. Atlocations along its peripheral edge, the LCD panel 1 has terminalportions 1 a. At the terminal portions 1 a, the LCD panel is connectedto a number of flexible substrates 4. The flexible substrates 4 carryintegrated circuits (ICs) 5, respectively, for driving of the LCD panel1. At one sides, the flexible substrates 4 are connected to the LCDpanel 1. At the other sides, some of the flexible substrates 4 areconnected to the adjacent one of connecting substrates 6, and the otherflexible substrates 4 are connected to a signal processing substrate 7.The flexible substrates 4 establish electrical connection between theadjacent flexible substrates 4. The signal processing substrate 6controls supply of desired electric signals to the ICs 5.

Anisotropic conductive adhesive provides connections between the LCDpanel 1 and the flexible substrates 4, connections between the flexiblesubstrates 4 and the connecting substrates 6, connections between theflexible substrates and the signal processing substrate 7. If desired, aflexible substrate that does not carry an IC or a chip on film (COF) mayreplace at least one of the flexible substrates 4. If desired, a chip onglass (COG) structure that may be directly mounted to an LCD panel maybe used instead of each IC 5.

With reference now to FIG. 2, description is made on a structure forassembling a LCD that employs the above-mentioned panel unit 18.

FIG. 2 shows a housing front 19, which may be provided by moldingplastic resin or forming metal. The housing front 19 is formed with anopening 20 to expose the display surface of the LCD panel 1. Inassembly, the housing front 19 is placed with its surface down. With itsdisplay surface 1 b down, the LCD panel 1 of the panel unit 18 is putonto the rear surface of the housing front 19.

In the before described structure in connection with FIGS. 23 to 33, itwas necessary to turn the display unit 31 through 180 degrees to facethe display surface 32 a of the panel unit 32 down for ease of thesubsequent installation work of the substrates. However, in theexemplary embodiment, such turning operation is no longer needed becausethe panel unit 18 is put onto the rear surface of the housing front 19with the display surface 1 b of the LCD panel 1 down. To provide firmengagement between the LCD panel 1 and the rear surface of the housingfront 19, an elastic sheet 21 may be placed between them.

With reference now to FIG. 3, the housing front 19 is formed with a LCDpanel retainer 22 to retain the LCD panel 1 of the panel unit 18 in adesired position within a hypothetical horizontal plane parallel to thedisplay surface 1 b. The LCD panel retainer 22 includes at least onepanel retainer rib or protrusion. In this embodiment, the LCD panelretainer 22 includes a plurality of panel retainer ribs or protrusionsat spaced locations on the edge of the rear surface around the opening20. FIG. 4 is a section taken through the line A-A′ in FIG. 3, showingthe cross sectional profile of one type of the panel retainer ribs 22.FIG. 6 is a section taken through the line C-C′ in FIG. 3, showing thecross sectional profile of another type of the panel retainer ribs 22.As shown in FIG. 4, the panel retainer rib 22 of the one type has aninboard surface in abutting engagement with the adjacent side of theglass substrate 3 of the LCD panel 1. This retainer rib 22 is in theform of a protrusion that has a predetermined height not exceeding theheight of elevation of the rear surface of the LCD panel 1. The panelretainer ribs 22 shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 cooperate with each other toretain the LCD panel 1 at around the desired position within thehypothetical horizontal plane parallel to the display surface 1 b.

In FIG. 4, the glass substrate 3 is illustrated as being in abuttingengagement with the panel retainer rib 22. As a light conductive plate(LCP) vertical retainer 24 to be described later performs finalalignment of the components, it is not necessary to keep such abuttingengagement between the glass substrate 3 and the panel retainer ribs 22.A clearance may be left between them. The clearance may be left toprovide a margin accounting for an error in dimension of the glasssubstrate 3.

Subsequently after placing the LCD panel 1, a spacer 17, an optic sheet16 and a light conductive plate 9 are put onto the rear surface of theLCD panel 1. With continuing reference to FIG. 3, the housing front 19is formed with a LCP horizontal retainer 23. In the embodiment, the LCPhorizontal retainer 23 includes a plurality of LCP horizontal retainerribs 23 located at spaced locations on the edge of the rear surfacearound the opening 20. FIG. 5 is a section taken through the line B-B′in FIG. 3, showing the cross sectional profile of the LCP horizontalretainer rib 23. As best seen in FIG. 5, a portion of the adjacent sideface of the light conductive plate 9 is in abutting engagement with aninboard surface of the LCP horizontal retainer rib 23. The LCPhorizontal retainer rib 23 is in the form of a protrusion that has apredetermined height not exceeding the height of elevation of thesurface of the light conductive plate 9. The LCP horizontal retainerribs 23 cooperate with each other to retain the spacer 17 and lightconductive plate 9 at around a desired position within the horizontalplane parallel to the display surface 1 b.

In FIG. 5, the light conductive plate 9 is illustrated as being inabutting engagement with the LCP horizontal retainer rib 23. Asmentioned before, the LCP vertical retainer 24 performs final alignmentof the components, it is not necessary to keep such abutting engagementbetween the light conductive plate 9 and the LCP vertical retainer ribs23. A clearance may be left between them. The clearance may be left toprovide a margin accounting for an error in dimension of the lightconductive plate 9.

This section provides description why the panel retainer ribs 22 and LCPhorizontal retainer ribs 23 are provided to retain the LCD panel 1 andlight conductive plate 9. Accounting for a difference in size betweenthe LCD panel 1 and the light conductive plate 7 and a difference inerror in dimension between them led to the provision of two differentretainer ribs 22 and 23 for retaining the LCD panel 1 and lightconductive plate 9, respectively. According to one exemplary embodimentof a method for fabricating a LCD, a need exists for using a lightconductive plate 9 that is wider in horizontal dimension than or as muchas the associated LCD panel 1. With regard to the error in dimension,there is an error in dimension ranging from ±0.1 to ±0. 3 mm uponcutting a glass substrate to a desired dimension, and there is an errorin dimension ranging from ±0.3 to ±0.6 mm upon cutting a lightconductive plate to a desired dimension out of acryl plate. Taking intoaccount the difference in error in dimension between the glass substrateand light conductive plate, it is required that a light conductive platebe wider in horizontal dimension than glass substrates of the LCD panel.

As shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), a panel retainer 22 may be closelyassociated with a LCP horizontal retainer 23. FIG. 9(a) shows aprotrusion for the panel retainer rib 22 as an integral part of aprotrusion for the LCP horizontal retainer rib 23 to form a shoulder.FIG. 9(b) shows a protrusion for the panel retainer rib 22 and aprotrusion for the LCP horizontal retainer rib 23 formed on the samelocation.

With reference to FIG. 6, after placing the light conductive plate 9, areflector sheet 10 is put onto the rear surface of the light conductiveplate 9. Subsequently, a lamp 11 and a reflector 12 are installed. Asbest seen in FIG. 6, another type of panel retainer rib 22 includes aprotrusion having a first inboard surface for abutting engagement withthe glass substrate 3 of the LCD panel 1 and a second inboard surfacefor abutting engagement connected via a shoulder surface to the firstinboard surface. The shoulder surface and the second inboard surface arearranged for abutting engagement with the reflector 12.

Finally, the housing rear 8 is combined with the housing front 19. Thehousing front and rear 19 and 8 cooperate with each other to retainbetween them the LCD components together. For final accurate alignmentof the components, the housing front 19 is formed with thebefore-mentioned LCP vertical retainer 24 as shown in FIG. 7, and thehousing rear 8 is formed with a brace 27 as shown in FIG. 8(a).

With reference now to FIGS. 7, 8(a) and 8(b), the LCP vertical retainer24 and the brace 27 will be described below. With reference also to FIG.3, it is apparent that, in the embodiment, the LCP vertical retainer 24includes a plurality of LCP vertical retainer ribs 24 at spacedlocations on the edge of the rear surface of the housing front 19 aroundthe opening 20.

FIG. 7 shows the cross sectional profile of one exemplary embodiment ofLCP vertical retainer rib 24. In FIG. 7, the LCP vertical retainer rib24 is formed with a hook 24 b at a head end. The LCP vertical retainerrib 24 has an inboard surface arranged to contact with the lightconductive plate 9 and an outboard surface on the remote side of theinboard surface. The LCP vertical retainer rib 24 is tapered toward thehead end so that the outboard surface is inclined inboard toward thehead end to provide a pressure acting site 24 a.

FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) show a portion of the cross sectional profile ofhousing rear 8 disengaged from the housing front 19 and that engagedwith it, respectively. As readily seen from FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), thehousing rear 8 has formed therewith the brace 27 protruding from aportion thereof. In the exemplary embodiment, the brace 27 includes aplurality of brace or holder ribs 27. When the housing rear and front 8and 19 are engaged as shown in FIG. 8(b), the brace ribs 27 come intocontact with the LCP vertical retainer ribs 24, respectively, at aninterface 28, and cover the LCP vertical retainer ribs 24, respectively.The cross sectional profile of the brace rib 27 shown in FIG. 8(a)clearly indicates that the brace rib 27 is tapered downward toward ahead end to provide an inboard brace wall 27 a inclined outboard towardthe head end. The brace rib 27 has a vertically extending outboard wall.The brace 27 is formed with a hook holder 27 b. When the housing rearand front 8 and 19 are engaged, the inclined inboard brace wall 27 a isin firm engagement with the pressure acting site 24 a of the LCPvertical retainer rib 24, loading the vertical retainer rib 24 throughthe interface 28. The hook holder 27 b receives the hook 24 b.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8(b), pressing the housing rear 8 intocoupling engagement with the housing front 19 loads the LCP verticalretainer ribs 24 through engagement between the inclined inboard bracewall 27 a and the pressure acting site 24 a. This inclines the LCPvertical retainer ribs 24 inwardly toward the light conductive plate 9,causing the hooks 24 b to move for insertion into the hook holders 27 band into firm engagement with the rear surface of the light conductiveplate 9. At peripheral portions, the housing front and rear 19 and 8 areformed with coupling portions 26 a and 26 b, respectively. Engaging thecoupling portion 26 a and 26 b with each other completes couplingbetween the housing front and rear 19 and 8. With respect to thecomponents of the LCD contained within the housing, the couplingportions 26 b of the housing rear 8 are inboard and the couplingportions 26 a of the housing front 19 are outboard.

Although not shown, the housing front 19 may be provided with switchesincluding a main switch and an image quality control switch. The housingrear 8 may be provided with a power supply connector, a various kinds ofinterface connectors, for example, a DVI-I connector and a USM hub. Astand may be connected via a metal plate to the housing rear 8.

Using the housing front 19 including the panel retainer 22, LCPhorizontal retainer 23 and LCP vertical retainer 24, the panel unit 18allows simple piling of the components including the LCD panel 1 and thelight conductive plate 9. The components so piled up are aligned andretained in a desired horizontal and vertical relationship only bycoupling the housing rear 8 with the housing front 19.

With reference to FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), two modifications of an LCPvertical retainer 24 are described.

The modified LCP vertical retainer 24 of FIG. 10(a) is substantially thesame as that shown in FIG. 7 except the provision of a protrusionserving as a panel retainer 22. In the loaded position as indicated bythe broken line, the protrusion comes into contact with a glasssubstrate 3 of an LCD panel 1 to work as the panel retainer 22. In thiscase, the independent panel retainer 22 shown in FIG. 4 may not beneeded.

The modified LCP vertical retainer 24 of FIG. 10(b) is substantially thesame as that shown in FIG. 7 except that a pressure acting site 24 a isvertical in unloaded state.

With reference again to FIG. 3, in the embodiment, each of the foursides of the housing front 19 ha sat least one of the panel retainerribs 22. Two LCP horizontal retainer ribs 23 are provided on the twoopposed sides of the housing front 19, respectively. Four LCP verticalretainer ribs 24 are provided on four corner portions of the housingfront 19. The number of ribs is not limited to this example. Anyappropriate number of desired ribs may be provided as long asinterference with connecting substrates 6, signal processing substrate 7and reflector 12 may be avoided.

With reference to FIGS. 11 to 19, a method for fabricating a LCDaccording to the exemplary embodiment is described.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, with its display surface 1 b down, thepanel unit 18 is put onto the rear surface of the housing front 19. Thepanel retainer ribs 22 on the housing front 19 retains the LCD panel 1at the desired position within the hypothetical horizontal planeparallel to the display surface 1 b so that the display surface 1 b isexposed via the opening 20. An elastic sheet 21 may be placed on rearsurface of the front housing 19 around the opening 20 between the LCDpanel 1 and the housing front 19.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13, the spacer 17 of plastic material has0.2 mm to 1.5 mm thick and 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm wide. The spacer 17 isattached by adhesive to the rear surface of the LCD panel 1. The LCPhorizontal retainer ribs 23 cooperate with each other to guide thespacer 17 into the desired position on the rear surface of the LCD panel1. Subsequently, the optic sheet 16 is inserted into an area defined bythe spacer 17.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the light guide plate 9 is placed on thespacer 17. A reflector 12 with a lamp 11 has a U-like cross sectionalprofile. At its open end of the U, the reflector 12 grips the lightconductive plate 9 so that light issued the lamp 11 and the reflectedlight from the reflector 12 enter inwardly of the light conductive plate6 from one side. The LCP horizontal retainer ribs 23 cooperate with eachother to retain the light conductive plate 9 at the desired positionwithin the hypothetical horizontal plane. The panel reflector ribs 22retain the reflector 12. In this process, the flexible substrates 4 arebent to allow the connecting substrates 6 to extend for insertion intogrooves, with which the housing front 19 is formed.

The reflector sheet 10 is placed on the rear surface of the lightconductive plate 9. Subsequently, the signal processing substrate 7 isfixedly attached via adhesive tape to the rear surface of the reflectorsheet 10.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the converter substrate 13and inverter substrate 14 are fixedly attached via adhesive tape to therear surface of the reflector sheet 10. The inverter substrate 14 isconnected to the lamp cables 15. The converter substrate 13 is connectedto the signal processing substrate 7. It is noted that the metal sheetcarrying the converter and inverter substrates is no longer needed.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the housing rear 8 covers thehousing front 19. As mentioned before, pressing the housing rear 8 intocoupling engagement with the housing front 19 loads the LCP verticalretainer ribs 24 through engagement between the inclined inboard bracewall 27 a and the pressure acting site 24 a. This inclines the LCPvertical retainer ribs 24 inwardly toward the light conductive plate 9,causing the hooks 24 b to move for insertion into the hook holders 27 band into firm engagement with the rear surface of the light conductiveplate 9. At peripheral portions, the housing front and rear 19 and 8 areformed with coupling portions 26 a and 26 b, respectively. Engaging thecoupling portion 26 a and 26 b with each other completes couplingbetween the housing front and rear 19 and 8.

With reference to FIGS. 20(a) and 20(b), another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention is described. This embodiment is substantially thesame as the first-mentioned embodiment except the provision of an LCPvertical retainer 25 formed from a strip of springy metal. At a base 25a, the LCP vertical retainer 25 of springy metal is fixed to a housingfront 19. The LCP vertical retainer 25 includes, in addition to the base25 a, a hook 25 b and a support portion 25 c interconnecting the hook 25b and base 25 a. The base 25 a is flat and fixed to the housing front 19by insertion into a receiver, with which the housing front 19 is formed.The support portion 25 c is inclined to form an angle ranging from 60degrees to 90 degrees with the rear surface of the housing front 19.

FIG. 20(b) shows engaged state between the LCP retainer 25 and theassociated brace 27. As it is loaded by the brace 27, the supportportion 25 c is further inclined to bring the hook 25 b into firmengagement with the rear surface of a reflector sheet 10 on a lightconductive plate 9 in the same manner as the first-mentioned embodiment.

With reference to FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b), another embodiment isdescribed. This embodiment is substantially the same as the embodimentshown in FIGS. 20(a) and 20(b) expect the provision of a damper 29 on ahousing rear 8 in the place of the brace 27. The damper 29 is formedfrom a strip of springy metal and arranged to contact with a LCPvertical retainer 25. In the state shown in FIG. 21(b), the damper 29 iscompressed to load the LCP vertical retainer 25. Under this loadedcondition, the LCP vertical retainer 25 is inclined to bring its hookinto firm engagement with the rear surface of a reflector sheet 10 on alight conductive plate 9.

With reference to FIGS. 22(a) and 22(b), another embodiment isdescribed. This embodiment is substantially the same as the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b) except the design of a damper 29.The damper 29 of this embodiment is formed as an integral part of ahousing rear 8.

While the present invention has been particularly described, inconjunction with exemplary embodiments, it is evident that manyalternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It istherefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any suchalternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the truescope and spirit of the present invention.

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No.2001-368283, filed Dec. 3, 2001, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal display comprising: a pluralityof components including a panel unit that includes a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) panel with a display surface, a light conductive plate,and a lamp reflector; a first housing part having an opening exposingthe display surface of the LCD panel; a second housing partcomplementary to the first housing part; the first housing part havingat least one horizontal retainer arranged to retain at least one of thecomponents at a desired position within a hypothetical horizontal planeparallel to the display surface of the LCD panel, and a verticalretainer arranged to retain the components together, the second housingpart having a load applying portion arranged to load the verticalretainer into firm engagement with the adjacent one of the componentswhen the second housing part and the first housing part are coupled toeach other, the first and second housing parts retaining the componentstogether when the first and second housing parts are coupled to eachother.
 2. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, wherein thehorizontal retainer includes a plurality of protrusions arranged forabutting engagement with at least one of the LCD panel, light conductiveplate, and lamp reflector.
 3. The liquid crystal display as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the vertical retainer has a pressure acting site and ahook at a head end thereof, and the second housing part includes a hookholder; wherein, when the vertical retainer is unloaded, the hook ispositioned outboard away from the components; and wherein, when thevertical retainer is loaded by the load applying portion at the pressureacting site, the hook comes into firm engagement with a surface of thecomponents.
 4. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe load applying portion and the pressure acting site engage with eachother to form an interface when the first housing part and the secondhousing part are coupled to each other; and wherein the interface isinclined.
 5. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe first housing part and the second housing part are coupled with eachother by engaging first coupling portions of the first housing part withsecond coupling portions of the second housing part, and wherein thefirst coupling portions are located more outboard than the secondcoupling portions and arranged to cover the second coupling portions. 6.The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loadapplying portion includes a brace.
 7. The liquid crystal display asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the load applying portion includes a damperformed from a strip of springy metal.
 8. The liquid crystal display asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one horizontal retainerincludes a panel retainer arranged to retain the LCD panel at a desiredposition within a hypothetical horizontal plane parallel to the displaysurface, and a light conductive plate (LCP) horizontal retainer arrangedto retain the light conductive plate at a desired position within thehypothetical horizontal plane.
 9. The liquid crystal display as claimedin claim 3, wherein the vertical retainer is tapered toward the head endthereof.
 10. The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe vertical retainer is formed from a strip of springy metal.
 11. Theliquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housingpart is a housing front, and the second housing part is a housing rear.